Methanogen research in China: current status and prospective

Abstract:

Methanogens are widely distributed in anaerobic environments, such as wetlands, paddy fields, animal rumens, oil reservoirs, oceans, and hydrothermal vents. They play critical roles in global carbon cycling, climate change, and clean energy production, making them a hot research topic both domestically and internationally. This article briefly reviews the research progress of methanogens in China, focusing on their resources and taxonomy, physiology and biochemistry, molecular biology, ecological roles, and applications. The future research trends of methanogens are also highlighted.